Putting represents around 40% or more of your game
The SPEED element influences around 80% of the result
Calibrate your stroke to the green speed when you practice
Get the speed right and you’ll never be to far from the hole
You can learn a lot from watching your playing partners putt
Speed Drill:
Select a straight putt and place 6 tees equally spaced 1 metre apart into the practice putting green. If practicing indoors, use a good quality putting mat and place several small coins 30cm apart.
Using 6 balls, putt one ball to each tee or coin starting from the closest tee or coin.
Then randomly select a tee or coin and putt a ball to it.
Continue to change the length until you can finish close to each tee
Pre Putt Routine:
A pre-putt routine is just as important as a pre-shot routine
Committing to a routine will help to build consistent and reliable putting stroke
Look at ways that will help improve your pre - putt routine
Your practice stroke should replicate your actual putting stroke
Your Putting Stroke:
Do you know what type of Putting Stroke You Have?
Square to square
Inside to inside
Outside to inside
Breaking Putts:
Determine where the straight putt is on the putting green in relation to a clock face
Look where your ball is in relation to the straight putt
Decide on the line and speed required – (most people under read the break)
Be confident and trust your judgement
Visualising the Path:
Either from behind or beside the ball practice your putting stroke glancing up and down the intended path.
Visualise a path the width of the hole starting from your ball and ending at the hole
Visualize the ball travelling along that path into the centre of the hole.
Once you are set commit to the putt with confidence
Putting Practice:
Always Practice with Purpose - Measure Your Results - Review Regularly
Always practice using the same ball as the one you play with
Never spend more than 20 minutes without a break when practice putting
When you first arrive at the Practice Putting Green select a straight 2 metre putt and instead of putting to a hole putt to a tee.
Compare the practice green surface to the course green speed and adjust when necessary
Putter Face Alignment at Address:
Correct alignment is crucial when putting
Select a point between you and the hole that represents the intended path to your ball and the hole
When practicing, have a friend stand behind you and assess your alignment to the target
Check to see if your putter grip is aligned to your putter face
Putting Tempo:
Correct tempo is generally a 2 to 1 ratio between the takeaway and the follow through
Try to have a smooth tempo
Slowly accelerate through the ball
Compare your tempo to your playing partners
Putter Face Alignment at Impact:
Ensure your putter face is square just before impact and just after impact.
A putter face aimed 2% offline may be the difference between sinking and missing the putt
Use whatever you can on your putter i.e. Lines, white circles to keep the Putter Face aligned to the ball path
A poorly fitted or loose grip could be affecting your alignment
Ball Alignment:
Try to line the ball manufacturer name or similar on the intended path
